Innovative Practice 2017 on Employment, Work and Vocational Education and Training
Providing summer internships for young people with disabilities
| Name of Innovative Practice: | Providing summer internships for young people with disabilities |
|---|---|
| Organisation: | Community Living Sarnia-Lambton – Summer Employment Transitions |
| Country of Implementation | Canada |
PROBLEMS TARGETED
A U.S. study shows that the number one factor for people with severe disabilities to successfully enter the labour market upon graduation is having had a paid job/internship while in school [Carter,E.W., Austin, D., and Trainor, A. (2012)]. At the same time, summer jobs give employers an opportunity to experience the inclusion of persons with disabilities in their own company, opening the door to future and more diverse hiring practices for those employers who become more confident with the situation.
SOLUTION & METHODOLOGY
The school-to-work transition service is designed to assist students with disabilities aged 16 to 29 to get internships during the summer months.
Job coaches, who are students themselves (without disabilities), act as role models while also providing the required on-the -job training. All summer jobs are paid at minimum wage or better without any financial incentives offered to the employers. These jobs are in a wide variety of sectors – from municipalities to school boards, restaurants, retail, manufacturing, petrochemical plants, offices, etc. Many of these students have summer jobs in several consecutive years, preparing them for the workforce after graduation.
OUTLOOK & TRANSFERABILITY
The cost of the programme is approximately US$140,000 per year and is funded in part by the Canadian Government. Over the last five years over 435 students have had paid summer job experiences. In 2015, the Summer Employment Transitions model and toolkit were shared with 19 agencies/communities, as well as three Ontario school boards for use in secondary schools. Growing interest from other schools resulted in the process of transferring the materials into a formal school curriculum targeting younger students.
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